Bonnie's Blog

Take a moment and ponder this question…when have you felt truly loved? In the New Testament, Paul wrote about love while in prison. Not a prison we imagine today, but a dark, damp cell below ground. No bed, no pillow, no plumbing. No shower, no change of clothes. Paul, in prison, is being told about the Corinthian church, that he knew so well, is in constant quarreling. Love was being forgotten. Those in charge wanted to be right and demanded that they were, indeed, right. In this dark, damp, smelly cell, Paul painted a picture of living life with God’s love. Perhaps Paul was in tears because of their quarrels as he wrote these words. Or he may have been captivated by a majestic, penetrating view of God. Where Paul was is where God was…in that very moment. When we are in our own private prison cells that are dark and damp with horrible smells, are we able to imagine God’s love as it is offered to you within that passage written by Paul? Are we able to enlarge our understanding or to think and feel differently about what love is like? Paul is describing divine love here in 1st Corinthians 13:4-8 - “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast. It is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” Spend a few moments soaking in the thoughts that come to you. Now imagine this...God is love. You are love. You are patient, you are kind. You do not envy, you do not boast. You are not proud. You do not dishonor others, you are not self-seeking, you are not easily angered, nor do you keep record of wrongs. You do not delight in evil, but you rejoice with the truth. You always protect, you always trust, you always hope, you always persevere. You never fail. To know God is to know love...very simply...it's all about love.